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Monday, 29 September 2014

I'm sincerely hoping nobody can tell, but in these photos I was actually in the worst stages of a cold and feeling pretty dreadful.. So apart from showcasing a few new pieces for AW14, this post proves that however I feel, I make the effort - I headed into campus for the societies fair wearing this (and it may make an appearance when lectures start!). Not even sickness will stop me dressing well, and preparing for the new season in a more autumnal colour palette - this maroon jumper is perfect because it reflects the autumn leaves, and the crop means I can continue wearing my favourite high-waisted pieces into the new season. My favourite piece in this ensemble however is my houndstooth skort, with its tones of grey and very structured wrap front which make it a perfect day to day piece that still has the power to make a statement. Since I am now truly beginning my student budget (today is the first day of uni!), you will probably see these pieces in many different combinations over the next few months..

Saturday, 27 September 2014

Anyone who knows me well knows that I wish I'd been 20 in the 1940s/50s, instead of now! I adore pretty much everything about the era (gender inequality and tenuous politics aside), from Dior's new look to film cameras, from Marilyn to Sylvia Plath, and from black and white movies to never going out without your hat and gloves. It's not that I believe I would have been a screen siren, but something about my personal aesthetic and general attitude lead me to believe that I was erroneously born into the 90s/00s, when really I should have been a fifties girl! So every so often I end up dressing in a manner that has been described as '1950s housewife', such as the other day when I strolled onto campus feeling very retro and very cute. I am especially in love with my vintage necklace - I'm such a magpie... Of course, since I do live in 2014, I rarely ever go top-to-toe vintage style because looking like you've stepped out of a time warp isn't a good image. That's why I keep a modern twist, like these chunky River Island shoes.

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Transitional dressing is never something I've really mastered: I hate being covered up, and my favourite season is summer, both in fashion and in life! I usually end up being completely wrong about the weather, wearing summer outfits on rainy days or sweating under a jumper while the sun shines. This year, however, I feel like I'm better at it, mostly thanks to my new hero piece - this pastel faux fur gilet! I would never wear fur or leather, but faux is perfect for A/W, especially to keep that midlands chill off. Even on sunny days the wind can be vicious, so expect to see much more of this gilet as autumn has officially started and I am anticipating some tricky transitional days ahead!

Monday, 22 September 2014

I think it's no secret that underdressing is not in my nature, but I'm expanding that to say that I even dislike it on other people. Seeing people wear jeans to events, or tracksuits on the streets, really makes me long for the decades past when the standard of dressing was so much higher to go out - my grandparents and great-grandparents wouldn't be caught out of the house without a hat, gloves or lipstick, and I love that aesthetic. Obviously, fashion these days is a lot less restricted, but we can still dress well in the 21st century, and dress appropriately for the occasion (even though I overdress!). I rarely go out without makeup, I consider my outfits and always put a few minutes into jewellery, perfume or the right bag, and honestly it is worth sacrificing a little sleep. Any day could be the day I get a selfie with Lana del Rey, or run into the love of my life, so why would I want to regret my appearance? Why not look my best every day?

I'm clinging to one of those old values here - changing for dinner! I think day and night still have different dress codes, and I don't just mean in the club. Going out for dinner, or for a drink, allows for a bit more glamour and somehow as the light wanes we can get away with more elaborate dressing and makeup. I took full advantage in my new Topshop houndstooth trousers (which remind me of a modern Marilyn) with a black top, Chanel bag and red lips, while the chunky sandals do keep it in this century. Maybe I'm outdated, maybe society is more relaxed these days, and maybe in 50 years time nobody will bother with dress codes, but I'm keeping up my appearance and my overdressing!

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Maybe I'm being influenced by the changing seasons, the greyer skies of Birmingham and the departure of summer, or maybe I'm just growing up, but I find myself increasingly drawn towards darker hues and classic monochrome these days. Of course, my love of colour and texture prevails but I am more likely to allow one statement piece to shine, such as my gorgeous tapestry pelmet skirt in this ensemble. Framing something so beautiful and bold with black really focuses attention upon it, and I love how this looks casual yet quite dressed up at the same time - perfect for yesterday's jaunt around the Bullring, and (yummy) lunch at Bodega Cantina!

Friday, 19 September 2014

For most of us, buying an entirely new wardrobe every season is the height of extravagance, frippery, and impossibility and the head-to-toe catwalk ensembles seen on the fash-pack are beautiful, but entirely unattainable. Personally, I believe that style lasts for decades while trends fade after a few months - in other words, a versatile piece will still look fabulous a few years after purchase. The odd on-trend item keeps it up to the minute, while those faithful classics get renewed year after year. I also find if I buy something (especially on my teensy student budget) then I really love it, and have no intention of replacing it within the next few years! So year after year my favourite hero pieces, such as this dress from a few years back, find themselves once again walking the streets - all it takes is a new pair of shoes or an updated bag to keep a look fresh and current. Chances are you'll start to recognise some of my perennial favourites!

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Now I'm up in Birmingham again (which is definitely the north for such a southern girl!) I intend to take advantage of every sunny day - I remember last year's winters being harsh, and needing layers and layers of clothing to make it into uni! Waking up to a (watery) sun yesterday was enough to have me breaking out the denim hotpants again, and pretending it's July not September. Although I have a soft spot for cosy jumpers and falling leaves, I will always be a summer girl, so I paired my shorts with a lace bralet and jelly sandals. I did make a small concession to the wind with my gorgeous kimono, which I am more than a little obsessed with at the moment.. I'm hoping for more sunny days to come, but I'm sure I'll have to fall back onto tights, coats and jumpers soon enough.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Yesterday I wore the closest thing to lazy as I will ever wear to go out - just a cropped pastel tee with a lace skirt and chunky shoes - but I still felt overdressed for the task at hand, which was moving in to my new house in Birmingham! For some reason I'm not one of those girls who can just throw on some jeans and a shirt, and even though all I did was sit in a car, unload said car, go food shopping and unpack my room, I still had to look and feel good. This is the closest thing to simplicity you'll see out of me! I got a little sad to move again, which is why my beautiful baby (aka my cat) is featuring in my pictures, but I'm all settled in now though and might post a few pictures in/around my new room. Plus my purse is already feeling the siren call of the big city shops..

Sunday, 14 September 2014

If there is one thing I love about Glastonbury it is the unashamed freedom you find when walking its streets (along with any number of tarot readings and healing crystals), because everyone is slightly offbeat and unusual I felt totally comfortable tripping through the streets like some kind of cross between a hippie princess and Lana del Rey. I'm a real girlie girl so I adore the bold femininity of flower crowns and texture clashes, and I'm also obsessed with Lana, taking inspiration from her particular brand of golden-age Americana glamour. This is a personal favourite outfit of those that I've put together - it's girlie, glamorous, and guarantees some heads turning!

Today I've been keenly following the LFW shows and outfits, as well as eyeing up plenty of pieces for AW14 - I can't wait to go back to university tomorrow for the grander shops, new locations and obviously to start studying again!

Saturday, 13 September 2014

Apart from the (slightly rose-tinted) memories of growing up with this as my town centre - Saturdays feeding the ducks when I was five, coffee-shop lunches while shopping, and a few Friday nights in Mambos/Bliss after turning 18 - there really isn't much I love about Taunton, especially when compared with Birmingham's vast shopping potential. However, I do love soaking up the sun in Vivary Park and those glorious flowers are perfect for brightening up my monochromatic ensemble.

I used to be the queen of colour, and I'd like to think I still dress brightly, but now I find myself wearing a lot more black, a lot more classic colour combinations, and buying a lot more monochrome and pastels. Maybe it's because I've grown up?! Whatever it is, the old adage that 'black goes with everything' reigns true here as I mix print and texture, topped off with my favourite purse - I scored this Chanel at a vintage fair for a fraction of its price.

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Hands up, I'm a Topshop addict! I didn't realise the extent of my adoration until I typed the description and realised I was wearing it head-to-toe! There's just something about the way their pieces are perfectly on-trend, completely wearable, and so easy to put together that has me drawn in-store like a moth to a flame.. And even yesterday, while shopping in Exeter, I found so many items to lust after that I'm sure my debit card will be crying while I online shop. Honestly, I wear so much Topshop that I should probably be on commission for advertising!

Obviously, I wouldn't buy something from Topshop that I didn't like - I'll never buy anything simply because it's from a certain label, or even because it's the 'hottest trend' - and I chose all of these pieces because I love them. This tapestry skirt is perfect for the transitional period between summer and autumn (not too appropriate when sitting down though!), and however much I hate to see summer go I am looking forward to layering up. I'd also forgotten how much I love Exeter as a day trip destination - even if it's mostly for the street names, and the potential photoshoot locations as I wander the old streets!